The former UNLV great led the Kings to a 38-44 record last season, a five-win improvement over 2006-07.

Theus' second season might not be as successful, with Ron Artest, Mike Bibby and Shareef Abdur-Rahim no longer with Sacramento.

But with a youthful group that Theus thinks will work hard every night, he might be able to turn a fixer-upper into a thing of beauty sooner than expected.

"It's a team with some young faces and some young veterans, but it's a team of high character," Theus said. "They're very coachable and eager to learn.

"We've got a ways to go, but the future is very bright."

Sacramento plays the Lakers at 6:30 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center in Los Angeles' annual NBA preseason visit to Las Vegas

The Kings drafted unheralded Jason Thompson 12th overall in June, a move that many saw as a gamble. The forward out of Rider showed flashes of brilliance in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas but clearly didn't dominate.

Sacramento picked up another first-rounder, former Syracuse forward Donte Greene, in a trade that sent Artest to the Houston Rockets. Greene, the No. 2 scorer in the summer league, could help take some of the offensive burden off veterans Kevin Martin and John Salmons this season.

"We're still in discovery with a lot of these guys, but they're headed down the path where they'll be able to be impact players for us," Theus said.

Former Kings first-round picks Francisco Garcia, Quincy Douby and Spencer Hawes figure to get plenty of playing time this season as they try to prove they belong in the NBA.

In all, the Kings' roster has eight players with three years of professional experience or less.

"We have some talent, and that talent has to grow," Theus said. "But everything has to be in alignment for us to be successful. Are our guys willing to sacrifice? Are we willing to gang rebound, be unselfish with the ball and grow close like a family?

"Games are won in the last five to seven minutes, and that's going to put a heavy burden on our young veterans. Kevin's going to have to grow into an elite player. But I expect us to be in every game and fighting to win every game."

As the Kings' remodeling project continues, Theus said it ultimately will be worth the wait for Sacramento's owners, the Maloof family, and its fans.

"The house wasn't totally broken," Theus said. "There are some parts of it worth saving.

"We've got a good living room. We have a good kitchen. What we need to build in our new house is a good family room."

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.